Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-10-27

oso0 70 tnis iaOot from Doyh0O0 IL
changeable climate and danger Of feyer
and running short of food they are also
accustomed to.
The party roam about until suffici-
ent number Of trees are found i'm the
vicinity to make it practicable to settle
down and establish camp in suita.
bic place. A small house is built for
sleeping purposes, and for covering
the bark that it may not be exposed to
an occasional shower of rain. The
party are now ten or twelve days
journey from the starting point, and
they claim the forests for many miles
around. no other bark gatherers being
allowed in the neighborhood for the
season.
When the rude shed or house IS com.
pleted. the majordomo divides the cas-
carilleros, and sends out little parties
in different directions with sufficient
food for long absence. From each
eminence the surrounding forests are
scanned for sight of the cinchona.
anu OUSCI AstNC
it possible for the men to distinguish the
tree at 4 great distance hot only from
its greater height than surrounding
forest trees, but from the light-green,
smooth leaves, with here and there a
yellow leaf. Speaking of the bark.
gatherers in Peru, traveller says that
standing on one side of ravine, the
men count the cost of the opposite
side, or they climb to the tops of the
loftiest trees and survey the country
around for cinchona
The men are judges of the proper
age ut which Il tree may be deprived OF
its bark, and know the best trees foI
this purpose. Having selected tree
it is sometimes cut rs near playground
us possible and the bark taken off; at
other times the tree is made barkles;
while standing Cutting is usually
considered the better way, that the
stump may put forth more leaves and
again grow up, while barkless tree
is sure to die.
After telling, ircisions are made
through the trunk-bark. up fifteen OF
twenty inches in length. by three OF
four inches broad. and the pieces arc
removed by knife or other instru.
ment. Sometimes the bark is not sep
aratcd for three or four days after the
cutting. When taken from the tree
the pieces are placed in some spot ex.
posed to the rays of the sun. and are
laid in piles, one over another, to dry,
while weight of some kind holds the
pile in place, the bark naturally inclin-
ing to roll while drying. The bark
from the smaller branc hes is allowed
to curl or become "quilled' as it dries.
When dry the cascarrillero loads the
bark upon his own back, and picks his
way along, now on dizzy heights, then
through painless woods or up and
down the steep mountain sides, until
the distant camping-grounds are
reached. A woodman may be able to
cut two quintals. two hundred pounds
Of bark per day. which will make
about one quintal after drying. and
being made ready for the market
The best bark is taken from the trunk.
the second quality comes from the larger
branches, and the least valuable is
peeled from the smaller branches, but
different kinds of bark usually get
somewhat mixed in the packages.
Before the rainy season commences,
about the last of September OF in Octo-
Der, the camp is broken up. and the
whole party start for the tcn-day's
journey home. The mules carry the
bark. three quintals being lawful
mule load in the Andes. although in
descending the steep eastern slope.
mules can lawfully carry but one hum
dred and fifty pounds each.-M y In
dependent.
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